No Luka Doncic? No problem ! Especially when we have Kyrie Irving in MVP mode in his ranks. With 44 points from its All-Star leader, the Mavericks put an end to the invincibility of the Knicks version OG Anunoby. After five losses in a row, Tom Thibodeau's players lost 128-124, and they paid a heavy price for their failed first quarter.
Doncic absent, all the balls go through Irving, and the former Cavaliers leader has OG Anunoby on his back. And yet, he makes her miserable. Whether at 3-points, at mid-distance, and of course in penetration, the All-Star point guard is untenable. To support him, there is Tim Hardaway Jr. Holder, he is just as untenable, and it is he, at the buzzer, who punctuates an almost perfect first quarter: 44-26!
The Knicks finally wake up, and Jalen Brunson brings his team to -10 (57-47). It's not big New York but Josh Hart's activity is good. Except that Irving is still untenable. His two winning baskets in a row widened the gap again (66-47). At halftime, the Mavericks maintained this 19-point lead (74-55).
Returning from the locker room, the Knicks are chipping away at their deficit, and Julius Randle pulls out all the stops. Whether through his cuts, or his off-balance 3-pointer in the corner, he is untouchable, and the Knicks are back on track: 90- 84. Everything has to be done again, or almost, for the Mavericks and it is again Irving, still at 3-points, who gives some air to his team (98-84). Hardaway takes over, and Dallas regains a 16-point lead (101-85) before attacking the last quarter.
The Knicks are back at -1!
The Knicks are on the ropes, and we even find the 19 point lead seven minutes from the end (115-96). We think it's over, except that Anunoby is calling for revolt. He scores six points in a row, and the Knicks go 11-2 to get back below the 10-point gap. Better, on a 3-pointer from Donte DiVincenzo in the corner, they come back to a small point (121-120). There's one minute left to play.
A crazy action then follows where all the offensive rebounds fall into the hands of the Mavericks. Josh Green and Tim Hardaway Jr. send 3-pointers after 3-pointers, but the ball hits the boards or goes out of the circle. Finally, the ball returns to Kyrie Irving's hands. He procrastinates. He fixes three defenders, to better serve Green. The Australian hits a 3-pointer, and all of Dallas is breathing! There are 23 seconds left and the Knicks won't come back.
What you must remember
– Stoppage. This is the Knicks' first loss of 2024, and the first loss with OG Anunoby in its ranks. The Knicks cracked at the end. Like last season, when they lost after overtime to Luka Doncic's 60 points.
– From the great Irving. With 44 points and 10 assists, Irving had one of his best matches under the colors of Dallas. He didn't do too much, like on this shot from Green's delivery, where Irving puts the ball under his arm to better find his teammate at 3-points.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
